SPN 334 - Cartographies of Disasters

Course Units: 1.0

(TBD: Staff) The association between Latin America and catastrophe paints a unidimensional picture that does not correlate with the region’s political, social, and geographical reality. With its history of colonialism, natural disasters, civil wars, dictatorships, and economic and political crises, Latin America is repeatedly constructed on the myth of disaster–whether natural or man-made. Disaster, by definition, is a serious disruption that causes great damage and involves human, material, economic and/or environmental loss. As such, it oftentimes leaves no room for discussion even if what constitutes a disaster can be subjective. In this class, we will tease out the problematic association between disaster and Latin America by exploring the effects of a disaster beyond the physical. Through concrete examples and its cultural representations, we will study the ways in which disaster is defined and experienced while analyzing its implications, political and otherwise. By drawing connections between disasters, their representations, and their relationship to politics and history, we will discuss issues including identity, class, power, extraction, and accessibility. Prerequisite(s): SPN 203 or permission of the instructor. CC: LCCS, HUM, LACS, WAC